One Hot Winter Break — Sharon Page

From Sharon Page, USA Today bestselling author of The Club and Sin.

When Ryan Taylor and I broke up in Winter Break, just before Christmas, I didn't know what had gone wrong. I just knew it was over. And the only reason I had for why Ryan was letting me go -- forcing me to go -- was his belief I should do better.
I'm Mia Reynolds, 19 years old, and Ryan and I were fighting to make our long distance relationship work. We had to attend different colleges on opposite sides of the country.
I thought I would be facing Christmas heartbroken, until I got an offer I couldn't refuse from billionaire's son Jonathon Powell: he would whisk me away to an exotic Caribbean resort, where I could experience my every sensual fantasy. I was honest with him. I'd just lost Ryan and it wouldn't be fair to Jonathon to go when I was still hurting.
But he convinces me to go. What starts as a week of sensual fun with no commitment quickly becomes an emotional, passionate obsession. As Jonathon helps me through my deepest pain and darkest fears, he touches my heart. But is it Jonathon I really love -- or Ryan?

Length: 32,200 words / 105 pages
This story is intended for readers 18 years of age and older.

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“I want to wait for you, Ryan.”
“Yeah, well I refuse to ask you to do that. We have to break up, Mia.”
He sticks his feet in his winter boots, not bothering to lace them, grabs his coat and he's gone. Snowflakes swirl in before the screen door slams.
I know he's angry about a lot of things. Is he really angry at me too or do I just happen to be there?
But it hurts that he won't talk to me, rationalize things with me, or even care what I want.
It takes me days to really understand that Ryan has broken up with me. I can't believe our relationship is done due to an argument that began over a Christmas gift. And it's supposed to be finished for my own good.
At first, I still think he's hurting over something, and he'll come to his senses, and we can get past this. I call him and go to his house but he just says he's really sorry, that I can do better and he's not going to stand in my way.
I finally realize we're not going back when I run into him at the local Starbucks and see him with another girl. Ryan introduces her as a friend from military college who's passing through.
I believe him, but I can tell from the way she looks at him she plans to be more than friends. And since she'd going to school with him, she's going to have lots of time to make that happen.
Maybe the truth is he doesn't love me anymore. My heart is shattered, but I finally accept that I have to let him go. It's what he wants, and I can't change that.
***

Four days after my breakup, I receive a proposition I can't refuse.
Jonathon Powell sends me a text. I know this is who Ryan meant when he said I'd met guys who could give me more. Jonathon became my friend during the fall term at Yardley in a really surprising way. The great-grandson of the founder of Powell Industries, a multi-billion dollar empire, Jonathon is also a multi-millionaire in his own right.
Jonathon's text reads: ‘I fly to Azure in 2 days.'
Azure is the exotic resort where Jonathon is going to spend his Christmas.
‘You said no before,' Jonathon continues in text. ‘If you changed your mind, let me know. I want to be with you in paradise.'
I could go to paradise with Jonathon. He wants me. We could see where it goes.
I stare at my phone, a huge decision resting in my hands.
You aren't in love with Jonathon, you still love Ryan.
I can't have Ryan. He's not going to change his mind. And he just might have fallen in love with someone else.
I have to be honest with Jonathon if I go with him. I can't just pretend I'm over Ryan when I'm not. Watching snowflakes drift past the living room window, I call Jonathon.
His voice is deep and sexy and makes me shiver as soon as he says my name. “Does this mean you want to go with me to paradise?” he asks.